Survey shows it pays to go freelance

In some sectors, where a high demand for design skills outstrips supply, those going freelance stand to earn higher fees than permanent staff paid annual salaries. These include the digital sector, where recruitment consultants report a higher proportion of people choosing to take freelance contracts over permanent jobs, and packaging, where there is a continuing shortage of wellskilled freelance designers.

Estimates by recruitment consultants polled in the survey put the average increase in freelance rates over the past 12 months at 13 per cent. Many suggest that the labour market is candidate-driven, and consultancies are warned that a depleted freelance pool can harm their ability to recruit extra labour at short notice.